autonomy
Americannoun
-
independence or freedom, as of the will or one's actions.
the autonomy of the individual.
-
the condition of being autonomous; self-government or the right of self-government.
The rebels demanded autonomy from Spain.
-
a self-governing community.
noun
-
the right or state of self-government, esp when limited
-
a state, community, or individual possessing autonomy
-
freedom to determine one's own actions, behaviour, etc
-
philosophy
-
the doctrine that the individual human will is or ought to be governed only by its own principles and laws See also categorical imperative
-
the state in which one's actions are autonomous
-
Other Word Forms
Etymology
Origin of autonomy
First recorded in 1615â25; from Greek autonomĂa âindependence,â equivalent to autĂłnom(os) autonomous + -ia -y 3
Explanation
When a group wants to govern itself or a person wants to make independent decisions, they are looking for autonomy. Autonomy comes from the Greek roots auto meaning "self" and nomos meaning "custom" or "law." This reflects the political sense of the word â a group's right to self-government or self-rule. When a person seeks autonomy, he or she would like to be able to make decisions independently from an authority figure. Can you relate?
Vocabulary lists containing autonomy
To Thine Own Self Be True: Auto
Looking to grow your vocabulary? Check out this interactive, curated word list from our team of English language specialists at Vocabulary.com â one of over 17,000 lists we've built to help learners worldwide!
Human Geography - Middle School
Interested in learning more words like this one? Our team at Vocabulary.com has got you covered! You can review flashcards, quiz yourself, practice spelling, and more â and it's all completely free to use!
This Week in Words: September 22 - 28, 2018
Want to remember this word for good? Start your learning journey today with our library of interactive, themed word lists built by the experts at Vocabulary.com â we'll help you make the most of your study time!
Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
As the children of Windisch’s Gen X clients get older and gain more financial autonomy, she’s noticed they tend to have a sense of reluctance or nervousness around managing their money.
From MarketWatch ⢠May 29, 2026
She called for schools to give pupils the same autonomy that people get in their workplaces.
From BBC ⢠May 16, 2026
"We're focusing on massively scalable full autonomy," he said.
From Barron's ⢠May 15, 2026
When Mr. Epstein laments the “excessive autonomy I constructed for myself,” it is hard not to cringe thinking of the many people in this world whose lives truly would be better with fewer constraints.
From The Wall Street Journal ⢠May 13, 2026
He seemed to have moved beyond his need to assert so adamantly his autonomy, his need to separate himself from his parents.
From "Into the Wild" by Jon Krakauer
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, Š Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American HeritageŽ Idioms Dictionary copyright Š 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
